The Who Tour Goes On
Despite the June 27th death of bassist and co-founding member John Entwistle, the Who have decided to continue their U.S. tour. The first two dates of the tour, tonight’s club show in Las Vegas and a June 29th date in Mountain View, California, will be rescheduled later in the tour. But the remaining twenty five dates will continue as planned as a tribute to Entwistle, with the blessing of the bassist’s family.
“He lived for music and will always live within the Who’s music,” Entwistle’s son Christopher said. “This is what he would have wished, and our love goes out to the remaining band members and the entourage that makes up the Who family.”
“The Ox has left the building,” read a statement on guitarist Pete Townshend’s official Web site, referring to Entwistle by his nickname. “We’ve lost another great friend. Thanks for your support and love. Pete and Roger.”
The Who soldiered on after the 1978 death of drummer Keith Moon, though the band announced in 1982 that they would no longer be touring. Townshend, Entwistle and singer Roger Daltrey reunited for a 1985 Live Aid performance, and celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary in 1989 with a forty-three-date U.S. tour. A 2000 outing, with drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) and keyboardist John Bundrick, was the band’s last. A small piece of the tour was captured on the live album, The Who Live: The Blues to the Bush.
Entwistle was found dead at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino yesterday, of an apparent heart attack. The bass player was in the city prior to the Who’s performance for an exhibit of his artwork at a local gallery. He was fifty-seven-years-old.